All-metal folding camera stand



XpT-il 17, 1945.

T. KORLING ALL-METAL FOLDING CAMERA STAND Original Filed May 6, -1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tank? Invedifov: Zififl -Z 7222/ 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I l J April 17, 1945. KORLING ALL-METAL F-OLDING CAMERA STAND Original Filed May 6, 1941 Aw, .h

T. KORLING I ALL-METAL FOLDING CAMERA STAND April 1 7, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed May 6 mlylu Patented Apr. 17, 1945 Torkel Korling, Chicago, Ill., asslgnor to The Folmer Graflex Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware ,7

Origlnal application May 6, 1941, Serial No.

392,080, now Patent No. 2,323,473, dated July Divided and this application April 16,

1943, Serial No. 483,264

8 Claims.

This application is a division of my co-pendins application Ser. No. 392,080, filed May 6, 1941, I

now Patent 2,323,473, dated July 6, 1943.

This invention relates to a camera stand of the all-metal folding type.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, 1 have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig.1 is an elevation of the camera stand, with the legs spread to one of the predetermined positions and the central column partly extended;

Fig. la is a detail showing in operating position the handle for facilitating the swinging motion of the camera-stand head.

Fig. 2 is an'enlarged, vertical, central section of the camera stand, showing the relation of the several parts of the camera stand head;

Fig. 3 is a detail in elevation of the central column locking member;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section through Fig. 1 taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig.5 is a partial elevation of the camera stand in open condition, the-central column structure being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the extension spacer control knob;

Fig, 7 is an enlarged, elevational detail of one of the camera-stand leg braces;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of the camera-stand leg brace'partly in section, showing the spacing means engaged with one of the spacing notches;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through Fig. 8 on the line 9-9 thereof;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section through Fig. 11 on the line ||l|0 thereof; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the spacing mechanism disengaged, and showing the construction of the leg brace clutch.

There is a great need, supplied by my invention, for a camera stand of very rigid structure, capable of being extended to relatively high elevations without sacrificing rigidity. The objects of my invention are: to provide a camera stand having leg supports that can readily be positioned to a predetermined spacing of the legs; to provide a camera stand having leg supports that can be adjusted and securely locked so as to provide adjustment of the legs other than atan equal distance from the center of the camera stand; to provide a central, vertically adjustable support that can be removed from the camera stand and inverted; and to provide means preventing inadvertent withdrawal of the central member from leg bracket 23 the camera stand when the central column is the inverted position.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the camera-stand head is indicated generally at 20 (Figs. 1 and 2),

'and in connection therewith there is provided an adjustable central column of tubular form designated as 2|, and which slides through a central support column 22 having a press fit into an upper having attached thereto three upper l gs or leg members 24, 24, by means of pins 26, 23. To the lower end of the central support column 22 is attached a leg brace bracket 29, and attached thereto is a series of brace .members 21, 21 by means of pins 28, 23. Fitted into each brace member 21 is a second member 29 having the form of a tube provided with a hinged end 29a, and attached to each brace mem. ber 21 is a clutch and spacing member designated generally at 30 and to be more fully described subsequently.

Each tubular member 29 is attached to its camera stand leg 24 which has attached thereto a suitable fitting 3| by means of a pin 32. The several legs 24, 24 are provided with the usual extensions and clutches or chucks indicated generally at 33, 33. This feature may be any of the well known camera-stand leg clutch or chuck structures, and need not .be described herein in detail, but is referred to in pointing out that the camera stand is provided with triple legs. ,Such feature is more fully illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the upper leg section 24 is shown as having a clutch or chuck member 34, and into such upper legv 24 is fitted a tube. (not shown) provided with a clutch or chuck member 35, and fitted thereinto is a third tubular member 36 having attached thereto a swivel floor pad or foot 31.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2. the central column 2| is provided with a threaded end 38, to which is threaded a head support member 39 to secure which to the central column 2| I have provided with a threaded hole. 44 for receiving a retaining cap screw 45 or the like, under the head of which is placed a washer 46 for maintaining the proper relationship of the said pivot member 43 with,

respect to the head support member 89. Between said head support member 29 and the pivot member 43 is provided a friction washer 41 In the construction shown, and which is claimed in my said Patent No. 2,323,473, when the nut 42 is turned in a clockwise direction, thus engaging the friction washer 41 and moving it into contact with the lower face of the pivot member 42, the latter tends to move in an upward direction, but is prevented from so moving by the washer 48 and the cap screw 45. Pressure will then be applied between the friction washer 41 and the lower face of thepivot member 42, thus locking or securing said pivot member 42 to the head support member 29. In order to preand which is cylindrical in shape and has a revent the said friction washer 41 from turning I when the clamped nut 42 is turned, I have provided a locking pin 48 fitted into a hole in the said head support'member 22 and into a second hole in the friction washer 41. The said pivot member 43 is-provided with milled flat sides 42, 48, and at right angles to said flat sides is provided a through pivot hole into which is fitted a clamp screw 52, shown as horizontally positioned in the several fi u s and particularly Fig. 2. The said clamp screw it is provided with two threaded portions i and 52 of different pitch respectively, as, for example, the portion 5| having twenty threads per inch and the portion 52 having eighteen threads per inch, for reasons to be set forth in detail subsequently.

The camera-stand bracket isprovided with a suitable disk-like top or head 52 having depending, spaced, parallel, side members 54, 55, to the lower ends of which are fitted, threaded bushings 55, 51 respectively. Between the bushing 56 and the face 49 of the pivot member 43 is placed a frictionwvasher 58, and between the bushing 51 and the face 49 of the pivot member 48 is'a sec-- ond friction washer 59. The said threaded bushings 58 and 51 are held in the side members 64 and 55 after they have been properly adjusted by locking screws 60, M. The said clamp screw 50 is provided with a suitable manipulating knob 62, and the said threaded portions iii, 52 of the said clamp screw 50 are provided with threads having a right hand lead. If the said knob 62 is turned, thereby turning with it the clamp screw 50 and its differentially threaded portions 5|, 52, the said threaded portion 51 is caused to advance in a right hand direction in bushing 58, and the differentially threaded portion 52 is caused to advance in a right hand direction in the bushing 51. Inasmuch as the threaded portion M has twenty threads to the inch in the assumed example, and the threaded portion 52 has eighteen threads to the inch in the described embodiment of my invention, the clamp screw 50 tends to advance further into the bushing 51 than into the bushing 56, thus causing the bushing 56 and the bushing 51 to be moved toward each other, thereby exerting pressure on the friction washers 58, 59, and the flat surfaces 49, 49 of the pivot member 43, and so looking the head side members 54 and i5 securely to the pivot member 42. It will be understood that within the scope of my invention other suitable differential pitches will bev employed for the threaded portions ii, 52.

In order to facilitate the swinging motion of the camera-stand head 53, I have provided a boss 63 having a threaded hole 84. shown in Fig. 2, into which can be threaded a handle 6!, shown in stored position in Fig. 5 and shown in operating position in Fig. 1a. 7

The camera-stand legs or upper legs 24, 24 are provided with hinge members It, I! hinged to the upper leg bracket 28-, asibest shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Also attached to the upper leg bracket 22 is the central support column 22, already described and best shown in Fig. 2. fitted to which (i. e., to the central support column 22) is a clamping bushing 01, shown in detail in- Fig. 3.

duced diameter tightly fitted into the said central support column 22. The said clamping bushing 01 isprovided-with through saw slots SI, ll which provide for a clamping action taking place on the area between them with respect to the adjustable central column 2 I. As best shown in Fig. 4, the bracket 22 is provided with a threaded hole 69, into whici'ris threaded a column clamping screw I0 having a head 1i and a tapered end portion I2. When the head" is turned in a clockwise direction, the tapered end portion 12 is caused to be advanced into contact with the narrow section or area 13 or the bushing 81, provided by and between the saw slots", as

clearly shown in Fig. 4,,thus causing the said' of the central column 2|, thus preventing any shaking or wobbling, while the said central column 2| is free to be moved in a vertical direction. Because of this close fit, a very slight movement ,of the clamping screw 10 will cause suflicient pressure to be applied to'the-central column 2! so assecurely to clamp the latter to the leg support bracket 22'.

It is desirable in a camera stand to have means for bracing or tying the stand legs in a selected position. In order to accomplish this, I haveprovided said central support column 22 and said leg brace bracket 26 which is securely attached thereto. This part of the structure is best shown in Fig. 5, where said central support column 22 has a press lit in a hole in the leg bracebracket 28, and to provide an additional guide to the central column 2| I have provided a bushing 14 having a close fit about the central column 2| and having a press fit in the hole in the leg brace bracket 26. Each of the several brace members 21, 21 is provided with a hinge member 15 atport tube or tubular member 29 is free to move within the upper brace member 21, attached to which latter is a cylindrical sleeve or member 18,

the lower end whereof is provided with threads I I, to which is threaded an outer clutch or chuck member 18. The lower end of the cylindrical sleeve or member 16 is provided with a countersunk opening 18, and about the tubular member or lower tube 29 is fitted an inner clutch or chuck shoe 80, which is a split-ring structure having a tapered end to lit the countersink I8 of the sleeve or member 16.

when the outer clutch or chuck member 18 is turned in a clockwise direction, the shoe Bil-is caused to move upwardly in engagement with the countersunk face 19, thus causing the shoe 80 to be contracted and thereby securely clamping the lower support or tubular member 28 to the upper brace member 21. This provides an adjustment for varying the length of the supporting means made up of the series of brace members 21 and tubular members 29, within the range of the two chuck means.

However, it is 'often desirable to open the,

tending openings may be provided along the length of each tubular member 29 and spaced as desired. Attached to each cylindrical sleeve or member 16 is a spring 83 having an inwardly extending end 84 for engaging the said transversely extending opening 8| or 82, which inwardly extending end 94 passes through an opening 81a of the member 86 and an opening 84a of the brace member 21 and is held to the'cylindrical sleeve member I6 by a screw 86.

In Fig. 8, the spring 83 is shown as engaging the transverse slotllke opening 8|, but in Fig. 11 it is shown as withdrawn from said slot-like opening.

To provide means for controlling the position of each spring 83, I have provided a series of cylindrical members 86, one being shown in detail in Fig. 6 and having a groove 81, an opening 81a, and a ridge or rim 88, a portion of which is milled away as indicated at 89. Each said cylindrical member 86 is fitted over a'brace member 21 and is held in position by the spring end 84 engaging groove 81 or opening 81a. When the cylindrical member 86 is in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the fiat or milled-away part 89 underlies the spring 83 and the spring end 84 thereof will engage the notch 8| or 82 of the corresponding brace member 29. When the cylindrical member 86 is turned to the position shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the spring 85 rides up on the ridge or rim 88, thus withdrawing the spring end 84 from engagement with the notch 8| or 82.

In normal operation, the camera stand being in closed condition, the cylindrical member 86 is turned to the position indicated in Fig. '7 and the leg members 24, 24 are swung outwardly until the transversely extending slot-like opening 8| is engaged by the spring end 84. All the legs 24 will then be moved out an equal distance from the central support column 22, and each will be stopped from further movement by the spring end 84 of the corresponding spring 83. camera stand will'normally be in very rigid condition. However, if severe conditions are present, such as strong winds or great vibration, each clutch or chuck 18 can also be tightened, thus securely clampingeach tubular member 29 to its brace member 27, thus providing maximum rigidity.

When it is desired to close the tripod, the clutches or chucks 18, 18 are loosened and all the cylindrical members 86, 86 are turned to a position such as to withdraw the springs 83 from the several notches 8| or 82. The camera stand can then be closed to a compact condition.

In order to provide means for preventing the adjustable central column 2| from falling through the central support column 22, when in the inverted position, referred to in the statement of the objects of the invention, I have provided retainersmade up of springs 90, 90, best shown in Fig. as attached to a sleeve 9| b means of screws 92, 92, said sleeve 9| being at- The tached to the adjustable central column 2| in any well knownmanner such as rivets or plus. The said springs 98, are provided with bentout ends 93, 93 which extend through openings in the said adjustable central column 2| provided therefor. The said column 2| can be withdrawn through the leg brace bracket 26 because of the taperedopening 94 (Fig. 5), but when the said adjustable central column 2! is reversed, there is no such taper provided in the leg brackets 23. Therefore, the spring ends 93, 93 prevent said adjustable central column 2| from passin therethrough.

In .order to provide a convenient place for storing or carrying the tilting handle 66, as shown in Fig. 5, there is fitted a threaded block 95 into said adjustable central column 2|. In thelower end of said adjustable central column 2|, there is provided a cap 96 having an opening to receive the enlarged end 91 of the said handle 85, which, as stated, is shown in carrying position in Fig. 5.

For attaching a camera to the stand head here-- in disclosed, there is provided a threaded opening 98 into which is threaded a bushing 99 having an enlarged head I89. Fitted into said bushing 99 is the usual camera attaching screw |0| having an enlarged head I82, such structure providing means for adjusting the useable length of the said screw 0| If the bushing 99 is screwed in an upward direction; the useable length of the screw 'llll becomes greater.

The folding camera stand herein disclosed is convenient to use, is.very stable, and has-sufli- .cient adjustments to enable the operator to place the camera in almost any picture-taking position. The stand is a self-contained unit and folds into a very convenient package for transportation.

' I have herein designated and claimed the camera stand as an all-metal one. While the preferred embodiment of my invention is that herein disclosed and-is an all-metal structure, my invention and the claims directed thereto are of sumcient breadth to include any equivalents or substitutes for non-metal materials. I consider as within my invention the use of such substitute non-metallic materials, among which I may enumerate plastics which have recently been found applicable to many uses.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used ina generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation,- the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an all-metal, folding camera or like stand having a central support-column, with a central column adjustably supported therein, and with a a set of legs pivotally connected to such supportcolumn, and having a set of leg brace members pivotally connected at opposite ends to said support-column and to said legs. the following construction or combination: means providing for the legs of the stand to be quickly opened manually by the operator to any one of a series of different predetermined spread positions and thereuponto be locked therein'by the operator, the said means including spaced transverse openings provided in the respective said pivoted leg brace members at different points along the length thereof, and a spring attached to each such leg brace member and having a protruding part engageable alternatively with any one of the openings in that leg brace member when the pivoted legs of the stand have been opened by the operator for that purpose, thereby locking said pivoted legs in the selectedspread condition, a sleeve member upon each leg brace member and carrying such spring for such leg brace member, and a chuck member on such leg brace member into which the respective sleeve member is threaded.

2. A combination according to claim 1, but in which each of said springs is attached to a sleeve member carried by the leg brace member and in, which there is provided a chuck member to whic the respective sleeve member is threaded, and in which as means to control the position of each said spring there is provided upon each leg braceone of a series of diiierent predetermined spread positions, said means including spaced, transverse openings provided in the respective leg brace members, and a spring mounted on each leg brace member and having a part to engage any one of said openings in the respective leg brace members, together with sleeve members carrying said springs respectively and a chuck member to which the respective sleeve member is threadedh said sleeve members and chuck members being mounted upon said leg brace members respectively.

4. An all-metal, folding camera or like stand with head, including in combination a central support-column, a central column adlustably supported therein, a set of legs pivotally connected to said support-colunm, a set of leg brace members pivotally connected at opposite ends to said support-column and to said legs respectively, and means for locking the stand legs'quickly in any central support-column having a set of bracev members pivoted at their upper ends thereto near the lower end of said support-column and materially above the lower downwardly protruding end of said central column and below and distant from-the pivotal point of connection of said set of legs, said brace members at their lower ends being pivotally connected to said legs respectively, said central columnthus constituting a tubular closed construction received within said supportcolumn and endingv a substantial distance below the lower end of said support-column, said central column having a block fitted thereinto substantially above the lower end thereof and having a threaded socket. the said handle member having at one end'a threadd portion receivable in the threaded socket of said block and when so received being supported within and entirely re-' ceived within and concealed by the said central column excepting the extreme outer end thereof, which is accessible to facilitate removal of said handle member from said central column, said handle member upon removal from its said position being engageable with said formation of the camera stand head to facilitate the swinging motion of the camera stand head.

' 7. A clamping bushing for a folding stand for a camera or like object, for adjustably connecting two upright, aligned, tubular parts thereof, such as a central support-column and a central column, said bushing being of tubular form; andhavirm one end portion thereof telescoped with respect to one of said two tubular parts of the folding stand, and having the other end portion thereof telescoped with respect to the other of said tubular parts of the folding stand, one of said end portions of the bushing having spaced, substantially parallel, elongated, through saw-cuts providing between them an elongated, resilient 49 area to afford a clamping action against the one of a series of difierent predetermined spaced I leg brace members, and a spring mounted on each leg brace member and having a part to engage either of said openings in the respective leg brace members.

5. An all-metal, folding camera or like stand with head, including in combination a central support-column, a central column adjustably supported therein, a set of legs pivotally connected to said support-column, a set of leg brace members pivotally connected at opposite ends to said support-column and to said legs respectively, and means for locking the stand legs quickly in any one of a series of different predetermined spaced positions, aid last mentioned means including for each leg brace member a cylindrical member thereon and having a rim, a groove adjacent thereto and an opening provided, in said groove and a milled-awaypart upon said rim;

6. An all-metal, folding camera or like stand v ith a swingingly adjustable head provided with a formation to receive detachably a handle mem her for use in swinging said head, and including in combination a central support-column, a long, hollow, central column adjustably supported therein and protruding at both ends therefrom, a set of legs pivotally connected to said supportcolumn adjacent the upper end thereof, said tubular part of the folding stand with which it is telescoped, and co-acting clamping means engaging the outer surface of said resilient area to press the said resilient area against the part of the folding stand with which it has a telescoped relation.

8. An all-metal, folding camera or like stand with a swingingly adjustable head provided with a formation to receive detachably and in combination with a handle member for use in swinging said head, and including in combination a long central support-column, a longer central column adiustably supported therein and protruding at its upper end materially above the upper end of said central support-column, thereby supporting said head materially above and materially spaced from the upper end of said central support column. a set of legs pivotally connected to said support-column, said central column constituting an elongated tubular closed construction received within said support-column and ending a' substantial distance below the lower end of said support column, said central column having a block fitted thereinto substantially above the lower end thereof and having a threaded socket to receive a threaded part of said handle member, thereby supporting the entire handle member within the lower part of the central column, whereby said handle member is entirely received within and is concealed by the said'central column excepting the extreme outer end thereof which is accessible to facilitate removal of said handle member from said central column. I

' TORKEL KORLING. 

